The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Thursday’s
suspension of Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) by President Goodluck Jonathan is patently illegal, poorly
thought-out and in bad taste, noting that it will definitely have negative
consequences for the nation’s economy.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday by its Interim
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also said the
action is the clearest indication yet that President Jonathan, whose body
language does not abhor corruption, is willing to silence any whistle-blower,
no matter his or her status.
”As the country wallows in unprecedented corruption under
the rudderless and corruption-hugging Jonathan Administration, the President
may have finally decided to send a strong signal to all
Nigerians that it will not tolerate any exposure of
corruption under any circumstance. What better way to do this than to silence
the man who has exposed the alleged missing $20 billion in the NNPC accounts?”
it queried.
APC said that Sanusi’s suspension has also shown clearly
that President Jonathan as a leader does not care if he destroys national
institutions on the altar of personal ego and political expediency.
”First it was the judiciary which came under his sledge
hammer, when he suspended then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo
Salami, just to satisfy the hawks in his party. Then it is the turn of the
National Assembly, the Police and now the financial sector. President Jonathan
should not destroy our institutions before he bows out of office next year.
These institutions are older than him and will definitely outlive him,” APC
warned.
The party said while Section 11 (f) of the CBN Act 2007
empowers the President to remove the CBN Governor, the section is clear that he
can only do so if he has the support of two-thirds majority of the Senate.
”Nowhere in the Act is it said that the President can
suspend the CBN Governor, as he has done in another of his serial rape of the
country’s laws,” it said, adding that the reasons given by the presidency for
Sanusi’s suspension are as puerile as they are unprecedented, and amount to
calling the dog a bad name just to hang it.
The party said the questions that arise, based on those
ridiculous reasons, are: ”Why has it taken almost five years of Sanusi’s tenure
for the President to realize the irregularities of CBN under Sanusi? Why is the
President acting on questionable allegations against Sanusi at a time the CBN
Governor has opened the can of worms in the NNPC? Why has a President, who has
always treated glaring corruption allegations against his political appointees
with so much levity, now so quick to move against a CBN Governor who has never
been accused, let alone indicted of corruption?
APC expressed serious concerns at the implication of
Sanusi’s suspension for the nation’s economy, especially on the value of the
naira; local and international investments; the stock market; inflation and the
overall health of the economy.
”Coming at a time when the economy was already under
pressure due to internal and external factors and is in need of significant
investments in several sectors, such as power and manufacturing to maintain its
economic growth rates, the uncertainty caused by the suspension will leave both
local and international investors questioning the economic direction of the
country and therefore their investment approach to Nigeria.
”At best, new investments will be delayed until investors
consider that economic and political stability has been restored, and at worst,
which is more likely, both new and existing investors will pull back.
”The Nigerian Stock Exchange that was already witnessing a
withdrawal of portfolio investors, due to the US tapering exercise, is likely
to be exacerbated as more investors, local and international, exit the market,
further putting downward pressure on the country’s exchange rate at a time the
CBN is already having difficulty defending the currency. In fact, the
devaluation of the national currency looms.
”All these factors will also drive higher inflation rates
with its attendant economic, social and political costs. No one can say for
certain exactly how costly this action will be for the nation but there are no
doubts it will be high,” the party said.
It called on Nigerians to stay strong in their determination
to fight the canker worm of corruption, even as the government of the day makes
clear it will not hesitate to punish whistle-blowers and reward corrupt
persons.
”If anyone in this country is still doubting that the
Jonathan administration lacks the wherewithal to fight corruption, operate
under the rule of law and take Nigeria to greater heights, that person should
now clear the doubt. This administration has clearly reached the end of its
tethers and should be voted out next year to pave the way for a party that is
willing and able to rescue Nigeria,” APC said.
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